Probing Protonation Sites of Isolated Flavins Using IR Spectroscopy: From Lumichrome to the Cofactor Flavin Mononucleotide

Infrared spectra of the isolated protonated flavin molecules lumichrome, lumiflavin, riboflavin (vitamin B₂), and the biologically important cofactor flavin mononucleotide are measured in the fingerprint region (600–1850 cm^?1) by means of IR multiple‐photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy. Using density functional theory calculations, the geometries, relative energies, and linear IR absorption spectra of several low‐energy isomers are calculated. Comparison of the calculated IR spectra with the measured IRMPD spectra reveals that the N10 substituent on the isoalloxazine ring influences the protonation site of the flavin. Lumichrome, with a hydrogen substituent, is only stable as the N1‐protonated tautomer and protonates at N5 of the pyrazine ring. The presence of the ribityl unit in riboflavin leads to protonation at N1 of the pyrimidinedione moiety, and methyl substitution in lumiflavin stabilizes the tautomer that is protonated at O2. In contrast, flavin mononucleotide exists as both the O2‐ and N1‐protonated tautomers. The frequencies and relative intensities of the two C?O stretch vibrations in protonated flavins serve as reliable indicators for their protonation site.     

Stability constants of palladium(II) complexes with thio- and dithiodiacids

The formation of complexes between palladium(II) and 3,3′-thiodipropanoic (TDPA) and 3,3′-dithiodipropanoic (DTDPA) acids has been studied by using spectrophotometric methods in acidic aqueous media with a constant ionic strength of 0.5 M (Na⁺, H⁺)ClO⁻₄. The stoichiometry of the detected complexes is 1:1 and 1:2 (metal:ligand) for the Pd-TDPA system, and 2:1 and 1:1 for the Pd-DTDPA system. The spectrophotometric characteristics and equilibrium constants for the different species have been calculated with the LETAGROP-SPEFO computer program.     

Electronic properties of flavins: Implications on the reactivity and absorption properties of flavoproteins

Electronic and structural properties of three protonated forms [HFl_ox, H₂Fl_ox⁺(N₅), and H₂Fl_ox⁺(N₁)] of lumiflavin have been determined at the HF/3-21G level of approximation. Larger delocalization and basicity explain the favorable protonation of N₁ with respect to N₅ whereas N₁ protonation considerably activates the electrophilicity of N₅ with respect to C_4a. The relative position of the first electronic transition evaluated at the CNDO/CI level for the radicalar H₂Fl^·(N₅) and H₂Fl^·(N₁) structures further supports the classification of the flavoenzymes into two classes. Moreover, the π-π* transition has been correctly placed as the lowest energy transition for the neutral oxidized lumiflavin and predicts a blue shift of the low-lying electronic transition upon monoprotonation. Finally, from the analysis of the molecular complex between oxidized lumiflavin (HFl_ox) and hydroquinone, we have rationalized the complex formation in terms of the complementarity between the molecular electrostatic potentials as well as in terms of the overlap between the frontier orbitals involved in these charge transfer process. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 64 : 721–733, 1997     

Raman spectra of zeolites exchanged with uranyl(VI) cations—II. Zeolite X

The formation of hydrolysed uranyl(VI) species in UO₂X zeolites prepared by various methods has been investigated by Raman spectroscopy. Ion-exchange in aqueous (pH>3) and non-aqueous (anhydrous methanol and uranyl nitrate melts) media resulted in the formation of hydroxy-bridged complexes such as [(UO₂)₃(OH)₄]²⁺, [(UO₂)₃(OH)₅]⁺, and [(UO₂)₄(OH)₇]⁺. Ion-exchange in more acidic media (initial pH < 3) was accompanied by the formation of a disordered phase incorporating UO₃, following extensive collapse of the zeolite framework structure. Cation speciation in the UO₂X system is compared to that in UO₂Y zeolites.     

Atoms-in-molecules calculations on diatomic fragments of polyatomic systems. FH and FH+

Two versions of the atoms-in-molecules method (the original Moffitt scheme and the orthogonalized Moffitt method) are applied to various states of the FH and FH^? species to obtain information on diatomic state mixing and potential energy curves needed for a diatomic-in-molecules calculation on (FH₂)⁺.     

Protonation thermodynamics of 1,10-phenanthroline in aqueous solution. Salt effects and weak complex formation

The protonation of 1,10-phenanthroline has been studied potentiometrically in different aqueous salt media (LiCl, NaCl, KCl, Me₄NCl, Et₄NI, MgCl₂, CaCl₂, SrCl₂, and BaCl₂) in the ionic strength range 0≤1≤1 M. This ligand forms two protonated species, [H(phen)]⁺ and [H(phen)₂]⁺; the monoligand species shows protonation constants strongly dependent on the medium. Medium effects were explained by the formation of some weak species: [H(phen)Cl]⁰, [M(phen)]²⁺ (M=alkaline earth metal cations). Formation thermodynamic parameters are reported.     

吡咯和呋喃气相质子化过程的密度泛函理论研究

Density functional theory and ab initio calculations have been used to determine structures and stabilities of the protonated aromatics species AH^＋ and AH2^2＋ （A=pyrrole, furan）. Possible mechanisms and relative energetics for protonation of pyrrole and furan by H3O^＋ and AH^＋ in the gas phase have been explored. Calculations show that the Cα-protonated species was the most stable structure for AH^＋, and the protonated AH^＋ might accommodate the second proton to yield AH2^2＋ if the free proton was available. The gas-phase H3O^＋ could protonate pyrrole and furan with significant exothermiCity and almost without barrier. The proton transfer from AH4^＋ to pyrrole and furan has a barrier ranging from 33.5 to 39.3 kJ/mol in the gas phase.     

Unravelling the Reaction Mechanism for the Fast Photocyclisation of 2‐Benzoylpyridine in Aqueous Solvent by Time‐Resolved Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory Calculations

A combined femtosecond transient absorption (fs‐TA) and nanosecond time‐resolved resonance Raman (ns‐TR³) spectroscopic investigation of the photoreaction of 2‐benzoylpyridine (2‐BPy) in acetonitrile and neutral, basic and acidic aqueous solvents is reported. fs‐TA results showed that the nπ* triplet 2‐BPy is the precursor of the photocyclisation reaction in neutral and basic aqueous solvents. The cis triplet biradical and the cis singlet zwitterionic species produced during the photocyclisation reaction were initially characterised by ns‐TR³ spectroscopy. In addition, a new species was uniquely observed in basic aqueous solvent after the decay of the cis singlet zwitterionic species and this new species was tentatively assigned to the photocyclised radical anion. The ground‐state conformation of 2‐BPy in acidic aqueous solvent is the pyridine nitrogen‐protonated 2‐BPy cation (2‐BPy‐NH⁺) rather than the neutral form of 2‐BPy. After laser photolysis, the singlet excited state (S₁) of 2‐BPy‐NH⁺ is generated and evolves through excited‐state proton transfer (ESPT) and efficient intersystem crossing (ISC) processes to the triplet exited state (T₁) of the carbonyl oxygen‐protonated 2‐BPy cation (2‐BPy‐OH⁺) and then photocyclises with the lone pair of the nitrogen atom in the heterocyclic ring. Cyclisation reactions take place both in neutral/basic and acidic aqueous solvents, but the photocyclisation mechanisms in these different aqueous solvents are very different. This is likely due to the different conformation of the precursor and the influence of hydrogen‐bonding of the solvent on the reactions.     

AB initio calculations of the stability of the OH+4 and FH+3 ions

Some geometric configurations of the OH⁺₄ and FH⁺₃ ions have been calculated by the SCF MO LCAO method using linear combinations of gaussian lobe functions. The total electronic energies of the systems under study are lower than the sum of the energies for H₂O and H⁺₂ or OH⁺₃ and H, and HF and H⁺₂ or FH⁺₂ and H, respectively.     

Melamine-mediated self-assembly of a Cu(II)–methylmalonate complex assisted by π+–π+ and anti-electrostatic H-bonding interactions

A Cu(II)-methylmalonate complex, (C₃H₇N₆)₄[Cu(II)(C₄H₄O₄)₂](H₂O)₄Cl₂ (1) (where C₃H₇N₆ = protonated melamine, C₄H₄O₄ = methylmalonic acid), has been synthesized from aqueous media and its crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The anionic Cu(II)-methylmalonate complex mediated formation of interesting supramolecular assemblies in the solid state by means of ionic interactions with protonated melamine. Moreover, other forces such as antielectrostatic H-bonding and π⁺–π⁺ interactions also play a crucial role in defining the final 3-D architecture of 1. An interesting stacking among protonated melamine molecules is studied by DFT calculations. Lattice water molecules and chlorides form various hydrogen bonds to take part in the self-assembly processes.     

Cerium (IV) oxidation rate of p-chloromandelic acid in perchlorate and sulfate media

The rate of the cerium (IV) oxidation of p-chloromandelic acid has been studied in perchlorate media at an ionic strength of 1.50 mol/dm³ by the stopped-flow technique and in H₂SO₄? MHSO₄ (M⁺ = Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) and H₂SO₄? MClO₄ (M⁺ = H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺) mixtures at constant total electrolyte concentrations of 1.00 and 2.00 mol/dm³ using the conventional spectrophotometric method. In perchlorate media the kinetic data indicate the formation of two intermediate complexes between cerium (IV) and the organic substrate, but only one is significantly involved in the intramolecular electron-transfer process. The oxidation rate is markedly lower in sulfate media, where two reaction paths have been found to contribute to the overall redox reaction. The univalent cations examined exhibit negative specific effects upon the overall oxidation rate increasing in the order H⁺ < Li⁺ < Na⁺ < K⁺. Activation parameters have been also estimated.     

Thermodynamic and mechanistic studies of initial stages in propane aromatisation over Ga-modified H-ZSM-5 catalysts

¹³C MAS NMR has been performed in situ to investigate the early stages in the conversion of propane to aromatics on Ga-containing ZSM-5 catalysts. Propane 2-¹³C was used as labelled reactant. The scrambling of the ¹³C label in the very early stages of the propane conversion, even at 573 K, indicates that the first reaction intermediate is a protonated pseudocyclopropane (PPCP) species formed by activation of propane on a (Ga³⁺,O²⁻) ion pair and its protonation by a nearby Brønsted acidic site. This PPCP species can decompose in several ways leading to H₂, CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, and C₃H₆ as primary products. The very same molecules can also be produced as secondary products by cracking and hydrogen transfer at high conversion. CH⁺₃, C₂H⁺₅ and C₃H⁺₇ carbenium ions which are formed by decomposition of PPCP can react further with alkane or olefinic species. Reaction of CH⁺₃ (stabilised by a basic anionic framework oxygen) with propane (activated on a Ga site) may yield n-butane as indicated by the increase in the n-butane/i-butane ratio when the catalyst contains gallium.     

Mechanistic Study of Oxidation of Palladium(II) by Cerium(IV) in Aqueous Acid

The kinetics of oxidation of Pd^II by Ce^IV have been studied spectrophotometrically in HClO₄ media at 40 °C. The reaction is first order each in [Ce^IV] and [Pd^II] at constant [H⁺]. Increasing [H⁺] accelerates the reaction rate with fractional order in [H⁺]. The initially added products, palladium(IV) and cerium(III) do not have any significant effect on the reaction rate. At constant acidity, increasing the added chloride concentration enhances the rate of reaction. H₃Ce(SO₄)₄⁻ and PdCl₄²⁻ are the active species of oxidant and reductant respectively. The possible mechanisms are proposed and the reaction constants involved have been determined.     

A FLASH-PHOTOLYSIS INVESTIGATION OF FLAVIN PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF PURINE NUCLEOTIDES

Evidence for the existence of a reactive triplet excited state of lumiflavin has been obtained by the flash-photolysis technique. The triplet state is formed in high yield on the irradiation of flavin solutions in water or chloroform by visible light, and it has been demonstrated that it can transfer its energy to a second molecular species. The flavin-sensitised oxidation of two purine nucleotides, adenylic and guanylic acids, has been studied by flash-photolysis and by long-term irradiation, and the results suggest a triplet-triplet mechanism for the transfer of energy from the excited flavin to the nucleotide. Approximate absorption spectra of the triplet state and of a semiquinone of the flavin have been calculated from the complex transient absorption curves observed on flashing the flavin solution. The triplet decays by a first-order process where k₁= 1·1 × 10^-3. The chemiluminescence spectrum of skatole is identical with the fluorescence spectrum of o-formamidoacetophenone in the same environment Similar results for 2,3-dimethylindole lead to the identification of the acylamide anion as the emitter in indole chemiluminescence. A peroxide ring cleavage excitation mechanism is proposed. 10⁴ sec^-1 and the semiquinone by a second-order process where k₂= 0·75 × 10⁹ 1.m^-1 sec^-1. The rate constants and extinction coefficients obtained enable decay curves to be calculated which fit satisfactorily those measured with the kinetic-flash apparatus.     

A kinetic study of the homogeneous oxidation of hydroxylamine by manganese(III)-bis(salicylaldimine) complexes

Summary The kinetics of the oxidation of hydroxylamine by manganese(III)-bis (salicylaldimine) complexes have been studied over the 5.2–8.4 pH range. The reaction is first order in both hydroxylamine and oxidant, and inversely proportional to [H⁺]. The [complex]: [hydroxylamine] stoichiometric ratio is 11 in both acidic and neutral media, and 21 in an alkaline medium. The second-order rate constant increased in the sequence: [Mn^III(L²)OH₂]-ClO₄·2H₂O > [Mn^III(L¹)OH₂]ClO₄ > [Mn^IIIL¹)OAc]-H₂O. The reactivity of unprotonated hydroxylamine is much higher than that of the protonated form. The reaction rate decreased significantly with addition of chloride ions. A plausible mechanism is proposed.     

DETECTION OF RADICAL ION INTERMEDIATES IN FLAVIN-PHOTOSENSITIZED PYRIMIDINE DIMER SPLITTING

Photosensitized splitting of cis-syn- and trans-syn-l,3-dimethyluracil dimers by 2′,3′,4′,5′-tetraacetylri-boflavin in acetonitrile containing a trace of perchloric acid was studied by laser flash photolysis. Protonation of the flavin prior to excitation resulted in excited singlet and triplet states that abstracted an electron from the dimers and yielded the protonated flavin radical (F1H₂′⁺), which was detected by absorption spectroscopy. Electron abstraction by the excited singlet state predominated over abstraction by the triplet state. Approximately one-third to one-half of the excited states quenched by the trans-syn dimer yielded F1H₂⁺, the balance presumably undergoing back electron transfer within the geminate radical ion pair generated by the initial electron transfer. A covalently linked dimer-flavin exhibited very inefficient flavin radical ion formation, consistent with the known low efficiency of dimer splitting in this system. These results constitute the first identification of a flavin radical ion intermediate in photosensitized pyrimidine dimer splitting.     

Anion Coreceptor Molecules. Linear Molecular Recognition in the Selective Binding of Dicarboxylate Substrates by Ditopic Polyammonium Macrocycles

Three macrocyclic hexaamines 1 , 2 , and 4 , and the acyclic tetraamine 5 and hexaamine 6 have been synthesized. The hexaamines 1 , 2 , and 4 are ditopic coreceptor molecules containing two triamine subunits which may bind anionic substrates when protonated. The stability constants of the complexes between the protonated forms of the macrocyclic polyamines and terminal dicarboxylates ^?O₂C?(CH₂)_m- CO₂^? as well as amino-acid and dipeptide dicarboxylates have been determined by pH-metric measurements. Around neutral pH, 1 and 2 give mainly complexes of the fully protonated species 1 ·6H⁺ and 2 ·6H⁺, whereas 4 yields predominantly complexes of 4 ·5H⁺ and 4 ·4H⁺. The stability sequences of the complexes formed indicate preferential binding of the dianionic substrates whose length is compatible with the separation of the triammonium binding subunits in the protonated receptor molecules 1 , 2 , and 4 . This selectivity pattern corresponds to a process of linear molecular recognition based on ditopic binding between the two ammonium subunits of the coreceptor and the terminal carboxylates of the substrate of complementary length. The complexes of the acyclic ligands 5 and 6 are much weaker and much less selective, indicating a marked macrocyclic effect on both stability and selectivity of binding, i.e. on recognition.     

Kinetics and mechanism for the aquation of bismalonatoethylenediaminecobaltate(III) ion in acid perchlorate media

Summary The title complex aquates in acid media, first to [Co(mal)-(H₂O)₂(en)]⁺ (1) (Step 1) and subsequently to [Co(H₂O)₄(en)]³⁺ (2) (Step 2). Complex species (1) has been separated and characterised in solution. While Step 1 involves only a second-order acid catalysed path, Step 2 involves both a first-order acid independent path and a second-order acid catalysed path. The rate constants and activation parameters evaluated for these reaction paths have been compared with those for similar carboxylato-cobalt(III) complexes. This, together with an observed isokinetic relation, indicates that the rate-determining step involves opening of the unprotonated (in the spontaneous acid independent path) or the protonated (for the acid catalysed path) chelate ring of the malonate ligand and insignificant solvation of the central metal ion.     

Proton Transfer Accompanied by the Oxidation of Adenosine

Despite numerous experimental and theoretical studies, the proton transfer accompanying the oxidation of 2′-deoxyadenosine 5′-monophosphate 2’-deoxyadenosine 5’-monophosphate (5’-dAMP, A ) is still under debate. To address this issue, we have investigated the oxidation of A in acidic and neutral solutions by using transient absorption (TA) and time-resolved resonance Raman (TR³) spectroscopic methods in combination with pulse radiolysis. The steady-state Raman signal of A was significantly affected by the solution pH, but not by the concentration of adenosine (2–50 mm ). More specifically, the A in acidic and neutral solutions exists in its protonated ( A H⁺(N1+H⁺)) and neutral ( A ) forms, respectively. On the one hand, the TA spectral changes observed at neutral pH revealed that the radical cation ( A ^.+) generated by pulse radiolysis is rapidly converted into A ^.(N6−H) through the loss of an imino proton from N6. In contrast, at acidic pH (<4), A H^.2+(N1+H⁺) generated by pulse radiolysis of A H⁺(N1+H⁺) does not undergo the deprotonation process owing to the pK_a value of A H^.2+(N1+H⁺), which is higher than the solution pH. Furthermore, the results presented in this study have demonstrated that A , A H⁺(N1+H⁺), and their radical species exist as monomers in the concentration range of 2–50 mm . Compared with the Raman bands of A H⁺(N1+H⁺), the TR³ bands of A H^.2+(N1+H⁺) are significantly down-shifted, indicating a decrease in the bond order of the pyrimidine and imidazole rings due to the resonance structure of A H^.2+(N1+H⁺). Meanwhile, A ^.(N6−H) does not show a Raman band corresponding to the pyrimidine+NH₂ scissoring vibration due to diprotonation at the N6 position. These results support the final products generated by the oxidation of adenosine in acidic and neutral solutions being A H^.2+(N1+H⁺) and A ^.(N6−H), respectively.     

Sulphonium ions: Collision-activated dissociation using fast atom bombardment ionization and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer

The low-energy collision-activated dissociation of sulphonium cations, including symmetrical trialkyl R³S⁺, dimethylalkyl (CH₃)₂RS⁺, diphenylalkyl Ph₂RS⁺ and cyclic (CH₂)_nS⁺R, has been recorded using fast atom bombardment ionization and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The general trends are easy loss of sulphide to give [R]⁺, except for R ? CH₃, and loss of alkene to give protonated sulphide if β-hydrogens are available. Loss of alkane, generally found in ammonium compounds, is not observed.